Author: emjhc
Venus has Serena. Beyonce has Jay-Z. Peanut butter has jelly. One good thing transforms to something great with the help of the perfect pairing. Another thing that’s better as a duet? Your workout! Here’s why there’s strength in numbers. You’ll Actually Show Up “If you know a friend is waiting for you at the gym or won’t pound the pavement without you, it’s tough to bail,” says Thomas Plante, PhD, professor of psychology at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, who has completed multiple studies on the power of exercise partners. It might be tempting to skip yoga after…
Like most evolving gym-goers, I eventually realized that to really build abs, I needed to start doing more core training ( Please try to imagine!). But when I added lots of crunch variations to my regular routine, I realized that it wasn’t my abs that were weakening from fatigue, but my neck. Every time I stood up, the muscles supporting my head screamed louder than my future six-pack abs. The pain went away like a typical muscle pain, so I thought it was just a weak neck. Embarrassed, I never thought much about it until I was working out with…
Squats are one of the best exercises when done correctly. Check out these six common squat mistakes and learn how to avoid them and get a better butt, a toned body, and a stronger body. 1. The Problem: Your shoulders and back are relaxed. Without proper tension in your shoulders and back, the entire squat will fall apart. Not only will your back arch, you’ll lose control, and your ability to lift weight will decrease, but you’ll also increase your risk of injury, says CSCS strength coach Tony Gentilcore. Basically, your body forgets how to squat. Solution: Pull your shoulder…
Tired of the intense zipper dance you do every time you put on your favorite jeans? Well, get ready to unzip them with ease. We have the perfect plan to tone your butt, flatten your stomach, tone your thighs, and burn fat everywhere. “To really change your body, you need to change your routine,” says Tracy Mallett, owner of ATP Specific Training & Physical Therapy Center in South Pasadena, California. One of Mallett’s best transformation strategies is using stairs for both cardio and strength training. “Climbing stairs instantly increases your heart rate, increases your endurance, and puts additional muscle strain…
If you’ve never been much of a lunge fan, now’s the time to switch camps. Lunges work your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, and core. And most importantly, consume them all at once to burn a lot of calories, says Holly Perkins, CSCS, author of Lift to Get Lean and founder of Women’s Strength Nation. say. Ready to learn how to lunge the right way? Check out this easy-to-follow guide and get ready to show off your best legs. 1. Forward lunge Benefits: Forward lunges work your glutes and hamstrings, but this variation (often referred to simply as “lunges”) also works your…
Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me. And for the love of Gu, don’t get in my way. That basically sums up my approach to my early years of group running. This was a solitary sport, a break from workplace toxicity and the ping of emails. In parks and on uneven concrete roads, I made the rules, and rule number one was: I’m a lone wolf, baby. But things change. Becoming a work-from-home freelancer can make anyone a little hermetic. And running became yet another activity where I was hanging out alone. Don’t get me wrong. I love being…
Unless you’ve been on a social media hiatus, you’ve probably seen an increasing number of yoga wheel pics pop up in your feed. Not sure what this gadget is exactly? Or thinking you’ll never understand how to use it? Here, we demystify the yoga wheel. Open Your Shoulders This amazing device opens up your shoulders like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Come roll on it, lie down, breathe, relax and feel the stress leave your shoulders. It’s definitely an exercise in breathing out and letting go, but it feels very, very good when you do it. Think of the yoga…
In today’s chaotic, technology-driven, work-soaked world, we all could use a little help to de-stress from time to time. While a healthy diet, hydration, and quality sleep are obviously important, there’s one treatment that can take you from anxiety to calmness in minutes. That’s yoga. The advantage of yoga is that it can be practiced anytime and anywhere. When you need a sense of calm, try some relaxing yoga poses and take a moment to breathe. Hakini Mudra Hakini Mudra is the mudra of the brain—it is said to enhance memory and concentration. Sit any way that is comfortable for…
Forget counting sheep. Ease your way into dreamland with this five-move yoga routine from Edward Vilga, creator of the DVD Yoga in Bed: 20 Asanas to Do in Pajamas (yogainbeddvd.com, $19.95). The moves will relax your body and mind, but the best part is that you can do them all in bed! Upside-Down Relaxation Minutes: 0:00-2:00 Sit facing a wall (or your headboard) with your butt about 6 inches away from it. Lie back and extend your legs up the wall. If this is too intense a stretch for your hamstrings, slide your butt farther away from the wall. If it’s not…
What you do in the morning has a huge impact on your daily routine. When we get out of bed after hitting the snooze button 15 times and can’t make any plans for what’s to come, we’re like blowing a prayer into the air for chaos…and maybe chaos will come. There are tons of posts about the habits of the most successful people, but there’s actually a reason why the way they start their day influences how the day goes. Not only on a functional, logical level (managing everything, having a schedule and plan, organizing what is necessary for a…